Nao: “Buy me some time Velo.” 219Please respect copyright.PENANAmSRxIABo8w
219Please respect copyright.PENANA3pjhcOvBxo
219Please respect copyright.PENANAMH2T6IJqhQ
Velo: “Got it.”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAMKmT9NRV7Z
219Please respect copyright.PENANA0USJ3GjBPJ
Transform, book form!
219Please respect copyright.PENANAHbU31XnVGV
219Please respect copyright.PENANAVVMD3mNDPR
Anthony: “No you don’t!”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAo6f8YZ2Wy3
219Please respect copyright.PENANAxjYTQcz3H7
Velo activates his shield ring and blocks the bolts of lightning ripping through the ground towards us.
219Please respect copyright.PENANAB4daDVM3M6
219Please respect copyright.PENANAAuxMvir33q
Velo: “Ugh…”
219Please respect copyright.PENANADDM1jrzo54
219Please respect copyright.PENANAcTVriqvreK
Swap control water for minor illusion.
219Please respect copyright.PENANAiID57tL3kw
*Break*219Please respect copyright.PENANAFmlx89YHw0
219Please respect copyright.PENANATxKFdeJQ33
Velo: “The shield is down!”
219Please respect copyright.PENANA0Vrpoc7BDv
219Please respect copyright.PENANAwc8hItvTMs
That’s fine I get between the next bolt and block it with my shield. I shoot 4 air bullets behind the shield that chases the fleeing Anthony.
219Please respect copyright.PENANAYvejRs0gtI
219Please respect copyright.PENANA1Wj7kt5bFM
Anthony: “You’re not the only one with magic items.”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAOT2roOngDX
219Please respect copyright.PENANAuH407ebMsq
Anthony takes out that paralysis water gun and fires the 3 shots at the black listers.
219Please respect copyright.PENANA31hJI4TGYc
219Please respect copyright.PENANA8YYiCgeWUq
Tallow: “Nice try!”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAAsVf1mocBA
219Please respect copyright.PENANAQl8bbUNsJ4
Before Anthony even pulled the trigger, Tallow got everyone out of the way of the attack.
219Please respect copyright.PENANAhMQtcbEG3a
219Please respect copyright.PENANAiCF8iq2Ifg
Anthony: “What?”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAEmDTSWX6bA
219Please respect copyright.PENANA9n8eTXtz6s
Tallow: “Nao, watch out take a step back.”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAF41Im1xN9m
219Please respect copyright.PENANAxaMe9bx7fC
I do as he says and narrowly dodge a strike of lightning.
219Please respect copyright.PENANAdyWfcn700P
219Please respect copyright.PENANAxQr7siHFf5
Anthony: “Mind reading huh?”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAdkdR0PDlod
219Please respect copyright.PENANAhU0uXCPTv9
Tallow: “You won’t be able to catch anyone off guard now.”
219Please respect copyright.PENANA8Ehd5ZWmrK
219Please respect copyright.PENANAmeWVxcrxLI
Anthony: “That won’t last forever.”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAsmK7fgyKhp
219Please respect copyright.PENANAmCbUzID21Q
I take the chance and blast more air bullets at Anthony while closing the distance. But right before my eyes, Anthony disappears. Invisibility…
219Please respect copyright.PENANAJIjDUlF096
219Please respect copyright.PENANABqcqmU1AOv
I quickly go back to Black Listers and place a shield over everyone. Everyone fades into silence as we keep our senses sharp for the next blow.
219Please respect copyright.PENANAWfpBpg9moW
219Please respect copyright.PENANAN63Ejmp69F
But it never comes. Tensions build and I start to lose my strength. I can’t keep this shield up forever. But that’s not all, the thought that Anthony ran crosses my mind.
219Please respect copyright.PENANAM3JOtBvXys
219Please respect copyright.PENANAwPKs2R5ZlK
Is this shield even necessary? My arms buckle and that’s when I hear a crack in the shield.
219Please respect copyright.PENANAHusHaDkW9i
219Please respect copyright.PENANA6NtG7pRukg
Tallow: “To our left!”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAY4elhcK66M
219Please respect copyright.PENANAqWbsE2hsIO
I redirect my strength to the left in time for-
219Please respect copyright.PENANALt1BhdWibv
*Crackle*219Please respect copyright.PENANArvbhN7yPbS
219Please respect copyright.PENANA3FffikLncf
Purple light slams against where Tallow is. The shield buckles under the lightning barrage.
219Please respect copyright.PENANAbBa9uuxQeA
*Blast*219Please respect copyright.PENANA57wUjteWOH
219Please respect copyright.PENANAckF0rWeuCn
Tallow: “Watch out!”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAPqLonIam10
219Please respect copyright.PENANAM6JR2s0ZcQ
I feel Tallow push me out of the way and when I turn to see what happened…
219Please respect copyright.PENANA8GGKU3ZIQ2
219Please respect copyright.PENANATNnQCHaXCJ
Tallow: “GAAH!”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAmdPVDpcSwN
219Please respect copyright.PENANAkmd7J7wdmU
Tallow is on the ground bleeding heavily from his bloody torn apart arms. The pain is too much and he soon falls unconscious.
219Please respect copyright.PENANAHvMRmLKL9s
219Please respect copyright.PENANAwTbqha88df
Mat & Velo: “Tallow!”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAkqwtdDZoyv
219Please respect copyright.PENANA4sHWDJdxuH
Anthony: “Now stay down Tallow.”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAVgEgtun2Dn
219Please respect copyright.PENANAugtC4SsMf3
The invisibility wears to reveal Anthony standing over me with a shotgun pointed at me.
219Please respect copyright.PENANAc7IsTK4UFB
219Please respect copyright.PENANACqFfuwwXrj
Anthony: “Checkmate.”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAHPkUiIjRkL
219Please respect copyright.PENANAwgDYxjn2DD
I hurry to place my hand on the muzzle and counter his attack.
219Please respect copyright.PENANAEIbsXxkNPN
219Please respect copyright.PENANAW2Jycfwt6x
Nao: “Air bullet!”
219Please respect copyright.PENANANYSVT4cv3G
219Please respect copyright.PENANA217Yfr90yO
Instantly, an explosion of destructive wind destroys the shotgun while pushing us away.
219Please respect copyright.PENANAAWHpIJspQ4
219Please respect copyright.PENANA0BeG1DY8NP
Nao: “Ugh…”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAt2unVTIn9m
219Please respect copyright.PENANAmJs3ZdeHEp
Anthony: “Damn, I had one shot left. Still worth taking the time to get it from my bag.”
219Please respect copyright.PENANABpm2HWoH7Q
219Please respect copyright.PENANAudDY886CzW
I look back to Tallow’s broken body and everyone at stake. Maybe I should…
219Please respect copyright.PENANAVtcfGFbIOj
219Please respect copyright.PENANAjlu1z5eee0
Anthony: “You’re out of options, give up now!”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAx30fH9tqZl
219Please respect copyright.PENANAlNY1FnfAMs
Nao: “Not yet.”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAhUkfS6lWzW
219Please respect copyright.PENANAZ8IKWA6iwU
I summon fireballs and delayed air bullets. Some are illusions and others are real. I ignore my nose bleed and fire them at Anthony.
219Please respect copyright.PENANAOxduG1buwq
219Please respect copyright.PENANApsQfmHMhGa
Anthony: “I know the fireballs are illusions, try again.”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAJN3rbsKZzl
219Please respect copyright.PENANA1GpFyk95CW
The fireballs phase through while the air bullets are blasted out of the sky by lightning.
219Please respect copyright.PENANA56AL81y6HR
219Please respect copyright.PENANABfCuPw2BWI
I continue firing while running towards Anthony with an illusion gorilla fist.
219Please respect copyright.PENANAqdkMoDvd3T
219Please respect copyright.PENANAcUG8q0tQgx
Anthony: “Seriously?”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAK6TdFKVW2O
219Please respect copyright.PENANAVDn6zJPo87
Anthony contorts his body to dodge the strike and smiles.
219Please respect copyright.PENANA0MZvevFQuM
219Please respect copyright.PENANA753JxOKot3
Anthony: “You can only use 3 spells, I counted what you can do.”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAm439kwIW9D
219Please respect copyright.PENANArZBi4CbdXH
I charge an air bullet in my free and aim it at Anthony’s chest. All the while, I summon 2 more air bullets aiming at his head.219Please respect copyright.PENANAZY7Pzf6kHq
219Please respect copyright.PENANAYSsjWYJMVw
219Please respect copyright.PENANADBTmmIiWFp
Nao: “Which of these are real!?”
219Please respect copyright.PENANA5oUQmhDWYU
219Please respect copyright.PENANAvujKhOetdP
Anthony: “Child’s play, you wouldn’t do headshots.”
219Please respect copyright.PENANARBFo0A2UYb
219Please respect copyright.PENANAbpssZRypio
Anthony meets my charged air bullet with a lightning fist.
219Please respect copyright.PENANAzuBIwPsOJn
219Please respect copyright.PENANAHxbPibZyL0
Nao: “GAAAH!”
219Please respect copyright.PENANApEyRpnOzjc
219Please respect copyright.PENANAHJfk3gC70R
My entire body begins to burn from the inside out. But-
219Please respect copyright.PENANAGlgUuAhKaO
*Strike*219Please respect copyright.PENANAulHvBdrBmt
219Please respect copyright.PENANAAk1kzVYdD1
Anthony: “Ugh!”
219Please respect copyright.PENANA4IYIH4y3Jr
219Please respect copyright.PENANAKCszwEcm8F
The two air bullets graze his head but that was enough to knock him out for just a moment. But that’s all I need. I rip away from his hand and form a magic shield bubble around Anthony’s exploding body.
219Please respect copyright.PENANAtQ5esX788B
219Please respect copyright.PENANAgSi0u2keVg
He shocks himself to wake up but it’s much worse than usual. The shield cracks but remains strong enough to contain him. I collapse on my knee while blood streaming from my nose. But I’m not the only one.
219Please respect copyright.PENANAwtaAsiPZ5A
219Please respect copyright.PENANA7Fj8dtM585
Anthony: *Pant* *Pant* *Pant*
219Please respect copyright.PENANAnh9JMKkBjs
219Please respect copyright.PENANARoJuGeLX3U
Nao: *Pant* *Pant* *Pant*
219Please respect copyright.PENANAGWYbLYV6Rt
219Please respect copyright.PENANAT4Aov2FwpC
Anthony: “I can…break out of this…eventually.”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAFyEaooD9rZ
219Please respect copyright.PENANAzmBng5Nhj5
Nao: “Fast enough before the police come.”
219Please respect copyright.PENANA98TYxKCX3N
219Please respect copyright.PENANAD12nAiEOf5
Anthony: “I’ll defeat them too.”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAbFAfjow0eE
219Please respect copyright.PENANAqPVQJgcqtA
Nao: “There’s too many and you’re too weak. They just need one or two bullets and you’re dead.”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAppQXk94Eob
219Please respect copyright.PENANAVKmgaU6zAq
Anthony: “…”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAsr2tOhQoMz
219Please respect copyright.PENANADUkPlbOaSg
Nao: “Give up Anthony, you’ve lost.”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAxiZ0kMKNHQ
219Please respect copyright.PENANAKmbYendXFI
Anthony: “Why are you so hellbent on sparing me! Didn’t I say your goal is just as valid as mine? Don’t force yourself to try and make an impossible world!”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAvjBq5Xggd9
219Please respect copyright.PENANAXBmkXKtyPJ
Nao: “I just want to save you!”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAeIXeSZpjBr
219Please respect copyright.PENANAjSVGzyTkkd
Anthony: “!”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAPZIPa6KpID
219Please respect copyright.PENANAjn8veF7iXA
Nao: “That’s it. I don’t care about all of that stuff right now. You are one of the first friends I ever had. And I don’t lose that.”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAk0VTYFxCGy
219Please respect copyright.PENANAOwvlJuMhdL
Anthony: “Nao…”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAyW72G2sGKC
219Please respect copyright.PENANArXZfSExHBm
His body loosens and that once solid determination shakes a bit.
219Please respect copyright.PENANAlTQmALS3Oz
219Please respect copyright.PENANACyQ3XDiADF
Anthony: “Mayb-”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAhGlMICPnY9
219Please respect copyright.PENANA6iA7opBDPg
Anthony: “!!”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAEjIPwksvDy
219Please respect copyright.PENANACsC57fA5Xb
Anthony: “Artemis wai-”
219Please respect copyright.PENANADyUZwNLzcL
219Please respect copyright.PENANABq0na0pK8q
Anthony’s eye glaze over but soon returns as a savage purple.”
219Please respect copyright.PENANANnoejJ2nPb
219Please respect copyright.PENANAiw7IVznjH3
Artemis: “No! I won’t let it end this, even if I have to break our body!”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAzrakBAczrm
219Please respect copyright.PENANAZe2KcqRlOT
Lightning explodes out of my shield and scorches the air. I’m blown away and Artemis falls to the ground. Both of our bodies are ruined but mine more so. Artemis gets up and drags her body to mine while gathering power.
219Please respect copyright.PENANAzMpZUmN48k
219Please respect copyright.PENANAYWCrVgf4pJ
Artemis: “Don’t worry…love I’ll…take this nuisance out and then we’ll…finally get back to the bloodbath. We will have our vengeance…right?”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAaZLJH1Oayo
219Please respect copyright.PENANAFr1Ah4rQca
I…can’t move. I watch as Artemis gathers enough energy to end my struggle.
219Please respect copyright.PENANAhBideDmdzT
219Please respect copyright.PENANA5AfQMtDBLW
Artemis: “Finally, this fight is over!”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAHnCTqtB1CM
*Explode* 219Please respect copyright.PENANAc5n0fL6Zs7
219Please respect copyright.PENANA0hPd0a5wqU
Alyson: “!”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAnfE0NyQTR9
219Please respect copyright.PENANA1q9KKxrhSz
Am I…dead…
219Please respect copyright.PENANAZj9tkib2tW
219Please respect copyright.PENANAn1DW4rkf56
Alyson: “Mom!!!”
219Please respect copyright.PENANApWuOYVS3cf
!!?219Please respect copyright.PENANAf0dOdHyz6h
219Please respect copyright.PENANA4k83gP7Tws
I open my eyes to see a person protecting me from the blast. That wall and sanctuary that’s always been there, begins to fall.
219Please respect copyright.PENANABmQZa2HXB6
219Please respect copyright.PENANAgGEFsaohm9
With a thud, my mother falls next to me…this can’t be happening.
219Please respect copyright.PENANAn5IuYTo6CE
219Please respect copyright.PENANAJ6LgteXl7K
Artemis: “Mom? That’s your…mother…I didn’t mean…not again…”
219Please respect copyright.PENANA49ct536F3q
219Please respect copyright.PENANA0cxekR0JZQ
I ignore Artemis’ words of apparent confusion and drag myself to her. Alyson rushes over and cups mom’s head in her hands.
219Please respect copyright.PENANAXiYVRhVkpt
219Please respect copyright.PENANA6IrjGuvjOX
Nao: “Mom…why…”
219Please respect copyright.PENANA6kv3DQdnee
219Please respect copyright.PENANABKLFkhiJ5R
Nell: “You’re my…children…of course I’d protect you.”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAzwaSFkcilL
219Please respect copyright.PENANAyhEHSUvYgY
Alyson: “Not like this! Not like this…”
219Please respect copyright.PENANA7ERmHp06Ht
219Please respect copyright.PENANA6NEFbqgjmV
Nell: “You…finally…called me mom.”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAQYKXCWooaA
219Please respect copyright.PENANADAYOhLR7kd
Alyson: “Mom…Mom, I’m so sorry I was stubborn. I should have….done so much more for you.”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAbl9EmyBOzk
219Please respect copyright.PENANAe9mbDeTfPC
Nell: “Nonsense…you’ve done…more than enough. I’m just glad…I could hear it…at least once.”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAsefPY1c0g4
219Please respect copyright.PENANAGD695hhmc7
Nao: “Don’t talk like that! I can heal you!”
219Please respect copyright.PENANALel9xviMHA
219Please respect copyright.PENANAwOmNE0r27A
I swap out illusion for healing and begin trying to save her. But…I’m too weak…
219Please respect copyright.PENANAETuOgvinNz
219Please respect copyright.PENANA0EDqFBgure
Nell: “It’s…fine…Nao…listen to me.”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAmW3aU6Q82L
219Please respect copyright.PENANAhU4Ghz9dnn
My mom looks deep into my eyes and pleads.
219Please respect copyright.PENANAExyNJ0rUV1
219Please respect copyright.PENANAhCm1yfq2xr
Nell: “You have…the power to change the world…and with it a responsibility…to heal it. Don’t be a villain…be…a hero. Protect your friends…family….and the innocent….promise me…”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAG2tDb64svD
219Please respect copyright.PENANAAaW02eYb5T
I look to everyone here and internalize what I must do. Her final wish.
219Please respect copyright.PENANAAtvnLIjklD
219Please respect copyright.PENANAuNo9hrZhQK
Nao: “I promise mom.”
219Please respect copyright.PENANA5P2dkDnQuh
219Please respect copyright.PENANAQCiuZkI3mZ
Nell: “Then…I know you two…will be…just…fine.”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAGbt1gcgtBx
219Please respect copyright.PENANAAgQMYwshyT
And just like that…my world grows darker.
219Please respect copyright.PENANAdB65qxfvQ6
219Please respect copyright.PENANADWoReMBw5H
Alyson: “Mom? Mom!”
219Please respect copyright.PENANABlzd1KtUk2
219Please respect copyright.PENANAKIz3QLHc3o
Alyson cries harder than she ever has. She holds mom’s lifeless body and wishes for this to be a dream. But this…is reality.
219Please respect copyright.PENANAxtLXNezW2R
219Please respect copyright.PENANAZw0e2NNzsc
Artemis: “…Why did a mother…have to jump in front of that? It’s…not fair…”
219Please respect copyright.PENANApUK1ktOxyw
219Please respect copyright.PENANAIzw4f5HLG3
I hear Artemis and I remember who punched this hold in my chest.
219Please respect copyright.PENANAU264eIZbDu
219Please respect copyright.PENANASR4XNVnLpR
Nao: “Put all 10 points into endurance. I will survive to kill Artemis.”
219Please respect copyright.PENANA5FzMcRYktR
219Please respect copyright.PENANAFwkOta4MKS
Arc: “But you’re bod-”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAJzkibR3BqT
219Please respect copyright.PENANAxKP6ReBhat
Do it! She won’t get away with this…
219Please respect copyright.PENANAzuPckLiHZQ
219Please respect copyright.PENANAryjmMQU3CQ
Arc: “Okay.”
219Please respect copyright.PENANA5RTIsY8tOA
Endurance: 27.5219Please respect copyright.PENANATmlhG923jh
219Please respect copyright.PENANAScXJvuyJ8P
Instantly, I can feel my body break apart and convulse wildly. No! I won’t pass out over this! But as I think that, the breaking sensation stops abruptly and hear that familiar sound.
*Ding*
219Please respect copyright.PENANAjejsn6WF0Y
Arc: “Congrats, you just leveled up.”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAh6qlrCoeba
Level: 2219Please respect copyright.PENANAtgU2EcAXQF
Strength: 27219Please respect copyright.PENANAHkSfahJ5zY
Endurance: 31.5219Please respect copyright.PENANAEnTz1NAQC1
Intelligence: 23.5219Please respect copyright.PENANAKButioXCPS
Charisma: 21.5219Please respect copyright.PENANABEpmd4MpIM
Agility: 20.5219Please respect copyright.PENANAtQV7asrAUb
Magic: 29219Please respect copyright.PENANAUnXG953XpY
219Please respect copyright.PENANAZ4xvuIQdMG
All of my wounds heal and new strength flows through me.219Please respect copyright.PENANAScpRkO3Cvl
219Please respect copyright.PENANAcf4FU1w7Ng
Artemis: “…No way…I didn’t want this!”219Please respect copyright.PENANAYcbRTmppyG
219Please respect copyright.PENANAseHeYD2mIi
219Please respect copyright.PENANAkgjvLwtnqm
She shoots out several bolts of lightning but they bounce off of my renewed shield.
219Please respect copyright.PENANAmrU9cf6N9M
219Please respect copyright.PENANAnh8aFZnfYj
Arc: “You have a free spell slot, what do you want?”
219Please respect copyright.PENANArTMXvGTMww
219Please respect copyright.PENANASDnU764MiY
Nao: “…Magic Missile.”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAoiTxB8LAPu
219Please respect copyright.PENANAdwXk84kLDP
I transform Arc into book form and make the change while the storm still rages. I transform Arc back, get up and walk towards Artemis.
219Please respect copyright.PENANA11cinP7zkp
219Please respect copyright.PENANAoh1OArxhKp
I walk through lightning bolts, balls, and whatever else she can throw at me. It doesn’t matter, my shield blocks it all.
219Please respect copyright.PENANAWfy4cRpVw7
219Please respect copyright.PENANAG0AXAJwxIU
Artemis: “Damn it all! Not again, not like this! Am I still this weak?”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAwjbK1N2kqD
219Please respect copyright.PENANA1GmxtemwM6
I break through the lightning storm and grab Artemis’ throat. I slowly squeeze and enjoy her gasps of air.
219Please respect copyright.PENANARQX4w6BjxW
Artemis: “You…kill me…you kill….Anthony…”219Please respect copyright.PENANAKlyalhpQNR
219Please respect copyright.PENANAUw1xhT9OtB
219Please respect copyright.PENANA8gnL6uMoDc
Nao: “I know.”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAUa0LBCKlfb
219Please respect copyright.PENANArSdfOgp2v0
I raise my hand and gather magic energy into my palm. She fights back by screaming and shocking us both with lightning. But I feel nothing…
219Please respect copyright.PENANAlX94espRIK
219Please respect copyright.PENANAMd6ybjf46a
I aim at my target…and fire.
219Please respect copyright.PENANAbPB3vpbs9x
*BLAST*
…
…
The screaming stops and the body goes limp. I let Anthony fall to the ground and walk away from it all.
219Please respect copyright.PENANAxkFBykqQGq
219Please respect copyright.PENANAK8NXxVioS3
Anthony: “…Why?”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAbzjxob1BZg
219Please respect copyright.PENANAO1thwLyVHc
I look back at Anthony’s missing hand and the still intact ring smoking from the blast nearby.
219Please respect copyright.PENANAyYBnZHThVR
219Please respect copyright.PENANASXLX2fyrhk
Nao: “You didn’t do it.”
219Please respect copyright.PENANAeLJIGtSPpA
219Please respect copyright.PENANAaUPlj04lat
I grab the ring and can feel it lightly shocking me. I clearly can’t destroy it yet…but one day, I will. I pocket it and return to my mom’s body with Alyson still crying.
219Please respect copyright.PENANAwrSVVUHZhw
219Please respect copyright.PENANAb9m0x6OczY
I stare down at her and find her strangely…at peace. But why? I failed her and my sister. I look up at Alyson who’s still crying. So I hold back my tears, for her.
219Please respect copyright.PENANAie6YJ9NEoH
219Please respect copyright.PENANA8f4TirGbqt
Anthony: “…I’m…so sorry.”
219Please respect copyright.PENANALKYyiOKm8L
219Please respect copyright.PENANAIqyVFxWlkE
I ignore it. I’m sure the police will deal with him, I don’t care. Right now…I just want to bury my mother.
ns 172.70.131.9da2